July 28, 2013

We've all heard that eyes are windows to the soul. So, I've decided that eyebrows are the window dressing to the eyes that are windows to the soul. And as such -- attention must be paid.

I was very lucky in my younger years -- eyebrow wise, though I certainly didn't think so at the time! They were dark, thick, and course and I had to pluck those suckers every damned day -- sometimes twice a day. It seemed the minute I looked away more eyebrow hair appeared to form a unibrow to join my hazel eyes together.

Eyebrow Pencils, Mascara and Powder, Oh My!

I never had to use an eyebrow pencil, much less any sort of special brown eyebrow powder to fill in sparse eyebrows. Nope -- not my problem. When I was little, and my mom would get ready to go out, she'd always have her trusty Maybelline brow pencil in hand and filled in her blonde eyebrows prior to leaving. She may not have worn any other makeup -- but those eyebrows were ALWAYS filled in.

The other day, I was grudgingly getting ready to go out, and I pulled out my makeup. I gave myself a cursory glance as I half-heartedly decided what eyeliner I should wear, when I suddenly noticed my eyebrows -- as if for the first time. Can it be? Were they looking dull? Were they looking not only dull, but a bit sparser (no-way!) and even a little gray?

I couldn't believe this was happening to me! (Doesn't this sound really dramatic, like it should be about the crash of 1929 or something?) I grabbed something I don't think I've ever used in my lifetime. An eyebrow pencil. And, I also grabbed something I've used since 1997, but had seriously slacked off in the past few years -- eyebrow mascara.

Oh, It IS Me!!!!!!!!

After adding these two useful (and always used by my clients because I insist) items, I suddenly looked like me again. Dark brown full and lush eyebrows.

Ladies -- we are a changin', but we can certainly help ourselves along. Doing my eyebrows really made a difference. After all my makeup was on, I looked like me (to me) again and that is the best feeling of all. If all it takes is a little makeup to make yourself feel like you again, I'm all for it! And there is nothing easier than adding a little color to make all the difference.

Don't leave out those "little" things because they are too small to make a difference.

Trust me -- they aren't little, and I LOVED the difference -- because it made me feel like I really hadn't changed that much (looks wise) and I felt the same way I used to feel.

So, dust off those window dressings -- you'll love feeling like you again -- even if only in your eyebrows! I'll take feeling like me again wherever I can find it! (And yes -- I did pluck those gray/white ones and got rid of them.)

I used YSL's Eyebrow Pencil in #2. Great color, and I like the spoolie at the opposite end for grooming. YSL is available at most high end department stores. I bought mine at Nordstrom.

I used Paula's Choice Brow/Hair Tint in Sable. She has other color options as well. Paula's Choice is available online at http://www.paulaschoice.com.

April 10, 2013

Yep - a blog post about MAC. My first blog post about it - but I'm sure it will hardly be my last.

Actually, I'm not writing about the MAC line of products, but I am writing about their Customer Service. Specifically, the Customer Service at the standalone MAC store at the Hillsdale Mall (San Mateo, CA).

Since MAC's inception back in the 80's it quicly became a fan sensation and a media darling - so to speak. The SA's all wore black, and had that slightly (to be honest NOT slightly) but a very haughty attitude as if we mere mortals in the non makeup world - we mere buyers were so below them it was if they weren't certain if they could speak to us without sneering.

After one to many off-putting SA's, I decided not to use the line - as delightful as the colors and product might or might not have been.

Fast forward to now.

In the years that I've been a makeup artist, it is almost impossible to avoid the MAC line - for a variety of reasons, outstanding color choices and a wide variety of everything you could possibly want. MAC is a very visible and popular line with the general public and professional alike.

Enter the standalone MAC store at Hillsdale. I walked in with a great deal of trepidation. To my surprise, every single one of the SA's were friendly, helpful and most of all, knowledgable. They looked right AT me - no looking around for someone younger or hipper. They talked to me, advised me and were friendly and kind.

Honestly, I was taken aback. Could it be possible that MAC just got a very bad rap - and I felt the negativity and kept away?

Which brings me to the wonderful Natalia. Natalia is not only knowledgable - she is friendly and kind - and as I said, she knows her stuff. She won't push you to purchase anything you do not need, or wouldn't enhance you. She is so accomplished that even I - ever on the watch for customer service and product knowledge - knew at once she wasn't just trying to sell me, she was listening and asking the right questions.

While I was browsing, I saw her at work on a customer and saw first hand her outstanding application of the products. Her sharp eye was very apparant, manner friendly, and her ability was impeccable.

I am very careful with my clients. If I cannot be with them when they are shopping, I want to guide them to not only the very best makeup for them, but I want them to be able to walk up to a beauty counter secure in the knowledge that the SA will not only assist them, but won't push them to buy something uunnecessarily, and won't talk down to them - especially when you can be dealing with the 40 + woman. (We have enough on our plates without a young and beautiful SA looking down on us, or worse, TALKING down TO us.)

It is so comforting to know that I needn't be worried when my clients shop without me. Every client I've sent to the Hillsdale MAC store has called me with wonderful compliments about the service they received. No exceptions. All 100% delighted. (That ain't easy to do these days!)

So maybe MAC Customer Service got a bad rap years ago, or maybe I had run into some not very good SA's in the past. But now, with the professionals like Natalia and her fellow associates at the Hillsdale Standalone MAC store-that rap is undeserved.

March 25, 2013

By way of an explanation (and more than a year and 3 months between posts deserves SOME sort of explanation) I have migraines. Not just migraines, but MIGRAINES. Chronic and ugly.

Since I devoted last year (and some of the year before to bitterness) I'm once again trying to join the living, and will continue my blog, and hopefully get on some kind of schedule.

Just asked some of my past brides and other theatrical and medical clients to send me their pictures, which I soon hope to post and will be updating my page as pain permits.

I have been quietly consulting with some theatre groups and some medical groups, and have continued to purchase and review makeup-just been unable to write about it - which, when you think about it, doesn't serve the blogging world, now does it?

October 14, 2011

I frequent a great many beauty/blog sites as is to be expected, considering what I do.

Makeup Packaging

Inevitably, I read that Estee Lauder is the "old lady"brand, and most younger girls or women aren't excited enough about their packaging to use her product. What a shame to judge the entire product by the cover. Some of the cutest most impressive packaging have the worst possible products.

So interesting! When I was a young woman, 20 or 21, the only brands you could buy in the department stores were Estee Lauder, Lancome, Chanel, Princess Marcella Borghese, Clinique and the incredibly modern, Ultima II. We didn't have NARS, MAC, Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier, Benefit, Urban Decay and all of the other brands that are now considered "regular brands".

A Long Time Ago....

I remember going to the Estee Lauder counter at The Emporium in San Francisco. A saleslady (now they are beauty advisors, makeup artists, sales associates - but not one saleslady among them!) introduced me to Estee Lauder's eye cream at the ripe old age of 20. She was a good sales person, and she also introducd me to Lauder's pressed powder, and a love affair was born.

To this day, I STILL use Estee Lauder's products. Not exclusively because there are SO many different lines, but this line still has some of the best quality products I've ever used. My HG pressed powder is Lucidity Transparency. Perfection for a very fair woman as myself. In the 30 years or so since I first started wearing her powder, I've strayed, tried the newest big thing - and have ALWAYS gone back to that perfect powder. (They'll be back. They ALWAYS come back. What movie or book was that from?)

What's Inside?

Estee Lauder's line has reinvented itself many, many times since my first foray into her makeup line when I was 20 years old. She has a great line - love the lipsticks, the blushes, and still prefer "More than Mascara" to any other mascara at this point.

So Bright, So Shiny!

So - yes, there might brighter and shinier and really clever advertisements and packaging on the newer brands. Some lines are fascinating with their glimmer and shimmer and special effects packaging - like a 3-D movie. But - where's the substance?

Don't judge a book by its cover - think of all the beauty opportunities you are missing!

If you haven't tried anything of Lauder's you are SO missing out!

If she's been around this long - she obviously doing something right - and it ain't all smoke and mirrors!